Glenrothes SMWS 30.81 “A baker’s delight”

Thanks to /u/devoz for pouring this for me.

So let’s get right to it: I’m 100% the target for this dram. Easily.

Glenrothes SMWS 30.81 “A baker’s delight” is named after baked goods, and I have a sweet tooth that will strip the flesh off of a chocolate bar in five seconds flat.

It’s an old, cask strength, refill ex-Bourbon hogshead Glenrothes. I’m already sold. That’s right in my wheelhouse.

It’s from the 90s. I grew up then. Kismet, I tell you.

So basically I’m biased as hell. So when my whisky friends found out I haven’t reviewed it, they were shocked and appalled at themselves. Well mostly at me. And somewhat at them.

Suffice to say, let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Price: Sold out

Region: Speyside

Date Distilled: September 24th, 1990

Age: 23 years old

Cask Type: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

Outturn: 206 bottles

Abv: 56.0%

Colour: 7.5Y 9/6

Nose: Brown sugar, black pepper, apricot jam, dandelion

Little hot, yet nice molasses at first. Kinda dances around that rum area a bit? Nice fruit, some floral/vegetal aspects.

Water is a benefit to this nose, otherwise, you’ll wonder why you’re even here.

Taste: Watermelon, buttery, anisette cookie, caramel, baklava

Fruity. Lighter than the nose. The taste goes a different route, being buttery and lightly fruity at first, then developing richer aspects with water.

Finish: White cake, anisette cookies, dry apple, cloves, mushroom, icing

Finish has this sweet aspect, then dry aspect, and then… sugar and mushroom? What the hell? There’s not suppose to be any sherry element here, yet the umami bomb/earth/funk flower is right there.

Conclusion: Unique, shouldn’t work but does, and really tasty. Right up my alley. Completely. Is it the best Glenrothes I’ve ever had? No, I don’t think so. It’s very close, but in a way that I know it’s my bias bumping up the score in the end.

Look, if somehow we’re tongue twins, and not in that creepy makeout on the internet way, then you’ll love this. The finish is the only part where things go right off the rails, and frankly, it somehow worked for me.

This is Glenrothes the way it should be: An interesting, creative malt. Caramel, honey, nutty, spicy, and fun. Done with time and elegance, and maybe a rocket-propelled machete as well.

Try this if you can: Even if you hate it, it’s an experience.

86/100

Scotch review #1011, Speyside review #279, Whisky Network review #1587